Washing and rinsing apparatus



TEXTILES, FLUID 1 3mm TREATING APPARATUS.

. 3 H. F.'NA$H ET AL 2,066,998

WASHING AND RINSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J 3nnentor6 l 8 2 2W4 w i 4 attorneys 68. TEXTILES, FLUID TREATING APPARATUS.

H. F. NASH El AL WASHING AND RINSING APPARATUS Jan. 5, 1937.

- Filed Spt. 27 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventom' 1771i, (Iftornegs 68. TEXTILES, FLUID- march TREATING APPARATUS.

Jan. 5, 1937. v H NASH ET AL I 2,066,998

- WASHING AND RIN SING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 19s; A r 5 sheets-sheet 3 3maentors 1 ya f/o'w I Gttorngg:

68. TEXTILES, FLUID T p TREATING APPARATUS. j march T Jan; 5, 1937. NASH r AL 2,066,998

' WASHINGAAND RINSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 2M rzw y attornegs 68. TEXTILES, FLUID T WAT W TREATING APPARATUS. i

Jan. 5, 1937. NASH ET AL 2,066,998-

' I WASHING ND RI'NSING APPARATUS 4 Filed Septf'BT; 1932- 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 3nnentot W am- (IttornegS 68. TEXTILES, FLUID TREATING APPARATUS.

I I I Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES gum can I PATENT OFFICE WASHING AND RINSING APPARATUS Henry E.

Nash, East Cleveland, and John Zimarik, Akron, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Prosperity Company Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Our invention relates to laundry apparatus and more particularly to Washing and rinsing machines.

One of the objects of our invention is to enable clothes to be Washed quickly and thoroughly and then subject them to a rinsing operation without removing them from the washing container or disturbing the operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention consists in constructing a washing machine in which the clothes container may be caused to automatically rotate in a washing fluid alternately in a plurality of directions over a predetermined period of time.

A further object of the invention is to construct a washing machine affording easy access for charging or discharging clothes, and more particularly having a charging door arranged substantially axially of the rotating clothes container.

Another object is to provide means whereby the rotation of the container may be started or stopped automatically by closing and opening the charging door respectively.

A still further object of the invention is to simplify the construction and operation of washing and rinsing apparatus, and to construct a machine which will be economical to manufacture and operate, and which may be operated at relatively high or slow speed, according to the nature of the work to be done.

Another object of our invention is to subject washed clothes in a revolving container to the action of a plurality of rinsing jets projected under pressure in a continuous series arranged substantially axially of the container.

A further object of our invention resides in the method of cleansing clothes herein set forth.

Another object consists in speeding up the washing and rinsing operations and in producing a machine which will occupy relatively small space, and which may be used either as a household machine or which may be installed for commercial operation.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of one embodiment of our invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawings:--

Figure l is a front elevation of a machine embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same, illustrating generally the driving and reversing mechanism and the drain.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section of the clothes container taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the driven shaft and rinsing means.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevation of the reversing mechanism shown in Figure 2, but with the cover plate removed.

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail fragmentary section of the charging door mounting which clearly illustrates how the inner door may be adjusted in assembling the machine, and,

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical section through the washing material feeding chute.

Our invention contemplates, broadly among other things, the construction of a washing and rinsing machine in which one clothes container or drum may be used to wash the clothes by bringing them into contact with an agitated washing solution, and then rinsing the clothes in the same container without interrupting the operation of the machine. Our invention further contemplates a machine of this character in which the clothes may be delivered to and taken from the container through a substantially axially arranged opening, the said opening and a corresponding opening in the casing having suitable covers or doors carried by the casing and. adapted to be moved together as a unit to closing position.

In carrying out our invention we provide a support indicated generally at I having supporting legs 2 and a rear ledge or support 3 for the driving motor 4 and the reducing gear 5. A casing 6, preferably in the form of a casting comprising complementary sections 6 and 1, is supported upon the support I and is secured thereto by means of the bolts 8, the sections being bolted together around their periphery as at 9. The casing section 1 is provided axially thereof with an opening II through which the clothes may be passed into and out of the rotatable clothes container I2. The casing section 1 is also provided with a window I3 which is suitably located in the lower portion thereof whereby the water level within the casing may be watched at all times during the operation of the machine. The water level is indicated at [4 in Figure 3 and extends upwardly from the bottom of the casing to a point which will submerge only the lower portion of the rotatable container |2.

We have provided means for draining the water from the stationary casing which consists primarily of a valve |5 normally seated in a seat I6 formed in the casting H. The casting I1 is secured to the lower portion of the stationary casing as indicated by the bolts I8. The valve stem l9 operates in a bearing 20 suitably packed as at 2| and extends downwardly and terminates in a saddle member 22 which is loosely pivoted to the lever 23. The lever 23 is pivotally carried at 24 by the casting l1 and is normally urged to the position shown in Figure 3 by means of the compression spring 25. The free end 26 of the lever 23 is adapted to be engaged by a cam 21 keyed to the shaft 28. The shaft 28 is suitably mounted in bearings supported between the respective forward legs 2 and is provided with a bell crank or lever 29 at one end. Thus the operator may at any time during the operation of the machine drain the liquid contents from the stationary container by shifting the lever 36 mounted on the casing 1. The lever 30 is connected with the lever 29 by a rod 3| for rocking the shaft 28. Rocking the shaft in one direction causes the cam 21 to lift the valve l5, while rocking it in the opposite direction causes the valve to be closed. The casting H is in the form of a conduit and when the valve is lifted communicates with the interior of the stationary casing. The discharged liquids may pass out of the conduit l1 and through a suitable extension conduit 32 to a sewer connection. We provide the casting I! with an auxiliary opening 33 which communicates through a drain conduit 34 with the pan 35. The pan is secured to the stationary casing as at 36 and is provided with a screen 31 in the discharge opening to prevent articles dropped in the pan from passing through the conduit 34 into the main conduit H. We have also provided a gate 38 which is pivotally carried at 39 within the conduit 34. It will be noted that this gate is limited in its swinging movement in one direction and serves to prevent back-flow of the liquids passing from the stationary casing 1 into the conduit 34. However, fluids passirg from the pan 35 through the conduit 34 will have free access to the conduit IT.

We have provided means within the stationary casing 6 and 1 for receiving clothes to be washed and later rinsed, the said means being capable of rotation alternately in different directions while a portion of the same is immersed in a washing fluid contained within the stationary casing. The form of such means as illustrated in the accompanying drawings consists of a rotatable drum |2 which is preferably constructed of complementary cast sections l2 and |2a secured together along their abutting peripheries as at 39. The section I2 is provided with a substantially axial opening which, when the rotatable drum} is mounted within the stationary casing, is substantially coaxial with the opening I I in the station 'ary casing. The annular wall 49 defining the opening in the section |2 preferably converges inwardly of the assembled drum to provide an annular seat for the closure 4|. The assembled drum is supported to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis as illustrated by the hollow shaft 42.

The hollow shaft 42 terminates at one end in a plate 43 for supporting the rotatable container l2 which is secured to the plate by means of a series of bolts 44. The container section |2a is provided with an annular outwardly extending thickened portion 45 for receiving the bolts 44. It will be noted that the wall of the section |2a inclosed within the annular portion 45 is normally spaced from the plate 43 and shaft 42 when the drum is assembled on the plate. This spacing is indicated at 46 and provides a chamber for receiving and distributing water or other fluid delivered from the shaft 42 and the supply pipe 41. It will also be noted that the portion 48 of the drum section |2a is provided with an annular series of openings 49 communicating the interior of the drum with the fluid chamber 46. These openings constitute an annular discharge for the fluid within the fluid chamber 48 and discharge the fluid in an annular series of jets indicated at 59, the said jets being directed substantially axially of the drum and against the opposite wall defined by the closure 4|. We have found that by supplying water at ordinary pressures through the hollow shaft 42, the same will be projected through the annular series of openings 49 with considerable force, sufficient to deeply penetrate and agitate articles of clothing within the drum, thereby affording a very efficient rinse. It will be understood that as the drum rotates and the clothes climb with one side of the drum they will be released to drop through this rinsing screen or curtain and will thereby be subjected to a thorough rinsing action. A second annular series of openings may be provided at 5| and arranged within the first mentioned annular series. In this manner a double rinsing curtain may be provided, if desired, to increase the rinsing action and consequently shorten the time necessary to properly rinse the clothes within the drum.

The hollow shaft 42 is rotatably mounted within the stationary casing on suitable bearings indi cated at 52 and 53 the former being preferably in the form of roller bearings mounted within a retainer 54. Suitable packing 55 is employed at the rear end of the shaft at a point where the shaft has connection with a supply of rinsing fluid. As has been mentioned before this fluid may be supplied through a pipe 41 having communication with a suitable source of supply through a control valve (not shown). An end of the pipe 41 is threaded into a housing 56 carried by the stationary casing enclosing the open end of the shaft 42 and the packing 55. A removable plate 51 may be secured to the housing for access into the interior.

The drive for rotating the drum includes a motor 4 connected through a suitable flexible coupling 58 and a speed reducer 5 to a shaft 59. A driving gear 60 is keyed to the shaft 59 and gives the main gear 6| keyed to the hollow shaft We have provided means whereby the direction of rotation of the drum may be automatically reversed or alternated at predetermined intervals, and we have found that a setting of this means to rotate the drum first for from three to five revolutions in one direction, and then reversing the direction of rotation for a similar number of revolutions, would be highly desirabl One form of such means is illustrated in detail in Figures 6 and '1 and includes a gear 62 keyed.

to the shaft 42. The intermediate gear 63 is driven by the gear 62 and is rotatably mounted on a shaft 64. A spur 65 on the shaft 64 meshes with a timing gear 66 carried by the shaft 61, and

68. ltXllLtS, tLUlD TREATING APPARATUS.

the timing gear carries a pair of trips 68 and 69. These trips are preferably semi-circular in e1e vation as shown in Figure 6, the curved roller engaging walls being disposed toward each other.

The trips are arranged on different radii and at predetermined points along their respective radii so that during rotation of the timing gear they will respectively engage a roller '10 carried by the push rod H to shift the rod axially in each direction. Obviously the positions of the trips 68 and 69 may be at different points circumferentially of the gear 68 so as to predetermine the number of revolutions of the drum in each direction of rotation. The rod terminates at its upper end in a slotted portion 12 operating transversely of the shaft 61. The rod H is pivotally connected at its lower end through a nut I3 with the arm of a lever 14. The connection of the rod H with the nut 13 may be adjusted to regulate the stroke imparted by the rod H by means of a lock nut 15. The lever 14 is pivotally carried at 16 on a projection 11, the other arm 18 of the lever terminating in a forked end 19 to receive the switch arm 80. A suitable switch operated by the arm 88 is carried within the casing 8| and regulates the direction of rotation of the shaft of the motor 4.

We have also provided means for regulating the speed of the motor preferably from one extreme to the other without intermediate regulation. Such means is commonly known and any convenient form may be employed and supported within a suitable housing 82. A control lever is connected at 83 for operating the speed control device. The automatic reversing mechanism is preferably enclosed in a housing 84 having a removable cover plate 85 for convenient access to these parts.

The rotatable drum sections l2 and |2a are perforated preferably throughout the extension of their peripheral walls as indicated in Figure 4, theperforations being shown at 85. In this manner the washing fluid within the s ationary casing will flow freely through the drum and come into contact with the clothes therein as the drum is rotated in the casing. It will be noted that the drum is provided with a plurality of ribs 86 extending substantially radially inward from the periphery. Although the walls of the ribs 86 are shown in the illustration of our inventi n as being imperforate they may be perforated in the same manner as the peripheral walls. When clothes are placed within the drum and the drum is rotated in a washing fluid the buckets or pockets formed by the ribs 86 will materially increase the agitation of the washing fluid and particularly in such a. manner as to force the fluid more readily through the perforations 85 and project the fluid against the clothes with considerable force. We have found that due to the highly agitated condition of the washing fluid, the same is caused to penetrate deeply into the clothes with such force that foreign matter in the clothes is quickly and easily dislodged. This action is further enhanced by the automatic reversal of the direction of the rotation of the drum at predeterm ned intervals. With the ribs formed imperforate as illustrated in Figure 4 the agitation of the washing fluid becomes even more intense due to the pronounced pumping action of the transverse buckets formed by the ribs.

In Figure 9 we have illustrated in'detail one manner in which washing materials may be fed to the interior of the stationary casing. -In the gai an i illustration, the casting is preferably provided with an integral hopper indicated generally at 81. The mouth of the hopper is normally closed by means of a cover plate 88 which is pivotally mounted on the hopper at 89. In order to provide against possible corrosion or clogging of the downwardly inclined wall of the hopper 81, and in order to provide means whereby the same may be readily cleansed, we employ a removable chute 99 which is provided with an outwardly extend: ing flange 9|. This chute can be constructed of sheet metal of convenient size to fit the mouth of the hopper and is adapted to be inserted therein the position shown in Figure 9, the flange 9| resting against the edge of the mouth of the hopper to provide a seat for the cover 88 and also to prevent the chute slipping down into the interior 0f the stationary casing. When it is desired to clean the hopper it will be seen that the chute may be readily removed for this purpose.

Water may be injected into the stationary casing through the upper wall of the hopper as indicated in Figures 1 and 9, there being pipes provided for this purpose. As indicated in Figure 9 hot and cold water pipes 92 and 93 respectively may be connected to deliver hot and cold water. into the stationary casing through the hopper 81, these pipes having communication with the respective sources of hot and cold water, there being suitable control valves in each of these lines. In this connection the conduit 41 having communication with the hollow shaft 42 is also connected with the hot and cold water supply lines so that a hot or cold rinse may be effected.

In Figure 8 we have illustrated in fragmentary detail the preferred embodiment of means for properly adjusting the closure 4| carried by the door 94 so that the closure 4| will seal the axial opening in the drum l2 when the door is closed. The closure 4| is freely rotatable from a shaft 95 and is supported thereon by means of the bearings 96. The opposite end of the shaft is preferably threaded into a threaded opening of the door 94 as indicated at 91, there being a lock nut 98 provided to adjust the shaft axially. Thefree endof the shaft is slotted at 99 so that adjustment may be effected merely by the use of a screw-driver. Radial adjustment of the door 4| is effectually accomplished by loosening the bolts I08 in the enlarged openings |0| in the door 94, and then closing the door with the closure 4| until the closure is in perfect sealing contact with the annular walls of the opening in the rotatable drum. When in this position the bolts I may be driven home to lock the parts in adjust'ed position. The adjustment need not be altered thereafter.

It will be seen that we have provided a very effective and convenient rinsing means which may be operated without disturbing the operation of the rotating drum and without even opening the door 94. It is merely necessary, to start the rinsing action, to open the valve either in the hot or cold water supply and also the valve in the feed pipe 41, which permits either hot or cold water to flow through the hollow shaft 42 and into the chamber 46 between the rear drum wall and the plate 43. The rinsing fluid entering the space 46 is distributed radially from the shaft 42 and is ejected through a plurality of orifices 49 and 5|;

We have shown two annular series of jets indicated at 49 and 5|, but it is understood that either one of the series maybe dispensed with if 75- desired. The water at ordinary pressures is thrust outwardly through these openings and substantially axially across the interior of the drum in the form of jets. It will be seen, as illustrated in Figure 3 that these annular series of jets form a kind of water curtain within the rotatable container and that as the container is rotated the clothes will tend to climb in the direction of rotation and will then be discharged through this curtain, whereby the jets will be caused to impinge against the clothes and the washing fluid will deeply penetrate the same and effect a very satisfactory rinsing action.

The operation of the embodiment of our invention as illustrated in the drawings is as follows;

The door 94 is first opened by the operator and dirty clothes are inserted into the drum through the axial openings. The operator then feeds either hot or cold water as the case may be from the pipes 92 and 93 into the interior of the stationary casing until a proper water level is obtained. It is to be understood that the water level shown in Figure 3 is merely by way of illustration since it is obvious that for these washing operations it may be desired to have a higher or lower water level.

The operator then lifts the cover 88 of the hopper and suitable washing materials may be supplied through the hopper into the interior of the casing. The lever 30 being in position to seat the valve IS in the base of the stationary case, the machine is now ready for the washing operation. The machine is set into motion automatically by closing the doors 94 and 4|, this being accomplished by an extension I05 on the door 9| engaging an electrical switch I06 which is connected to energize the motor 4 when the doors are closed. An emergency switch (not shown) may also be included in the electrical circuit whereby the machine may be stopped without opening the door although under ordinary working conditions the machine may be stopped by merely opening the door 94. This door is held in closed position by means of a lever or handle I01, the door 94 being hinged to the casing as indicated at I08.

As the motor 4 is energized the drum will be revolved in one direction for a predetermined number of revolutions depending upon the seating of the trips 68 and 69. As the time gear 66 is rotated to the position shown in Figure 6 and the trip 69 engages the roller 10, the rod H is moved axially upwardly to throw the reversing switch arm in one direction. This will cause a reversal of the motor 4. Further rotation of the timing gear 66 will cause the trip 68 to come into contact with the roller 10 and will thrust the rod H downwardly, thereby causing a subsequent reversal of the motor to drive the drum in the reverse direction.

The clothes may be washed in this manner for any length of time to be determined by the operator, and when it is determined that the clothes have been sufficiently washed the operator throws the lever 30 to open the valve l5 and thereby discharge the dirty water through the bottom of the stationary casing and out through the drain-pipe 32. The clothes are now ready to be rinsed and this is accomplished as described hereinbefore by causing the rinsing water to be fed through the hollow shaft 42 and thence substantially axially of the rotating drum in the form of annular series of fine jets. After the clothes have been sufilciently rinsed the operator may open the doors 94 and 4| and remove the clothes from the container. Since the clothes at this stage of the operation are saturated with water they may be temporarily placed in the pan 35 which is connected by means of a conduit 34 with the discharge pipe IT. The excess water will run out through the screen 31 and past the flap valve 38.

The'driving motor 4 may be run at either high or low speed according to the nature of the work to be done.

It will be seen that we have provided a very efiicient and simple machine for washing and rinsing clothes in which both operations may be accomplished without disturbing the operation of the machine.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having a central opening in one end thereof, a perforated washing drum within the casing having a central opening in an end adjacent the opening in the casing, a tubular horizontal shaft extending into the casing for rotatably supporting the drum therein and for directing liquid toward the last opening, and a closure carried by the casing for closing said openings, said closure including a hinged door for closing said casing opening, a shaft carried by said door, and a secondary imperforate door rotatable on said last named shaft for sealing said drum opening when said first door is closed against said casing opening.

2. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having a central opening in one end thereof, a perforated washing drum within the casing having a central opening in an end adjacent the opening in the casing, a tubular horizontal shaft extending into the casing for rotatably supporting the drum therein for directing liquid toward said last opening, and means carried by the casing for closing said openings, said means including a door for the casing opening, and a rotatable imperforate closure carried by the door for sealing the opening in the drum while the drum is being rotated.

3. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having a central opening in one end thereof, a perforated washing drum within the casing having a central opening in an end adjacent the opening in the casing, a shaft extending into the casing for rotatably supporting the drum therein, and means carried by the casing for closing said openings against the passage of liquid, said means including a door for the casing opening, and a rotatable closure carried by the door for sealing the opening in the drum while the drum is being rotated, and means for adjusting the rotatable closure for proper seating with the wall defining the opening in the drum in fluid tight relation.

4. The combination with a washing machine comprising a stationary casing and a horizontally rotatable drum therein, said drum and said casing having coaxial openings in one end for receiving clothes to be washed, means to direct liquid toward said last opening of a closure for said openings comprising a door hinged to said casing, a shaft carried by said door, and an imperforate closure freely rotatable on said shaft 68. TEXTILES, FLUID TREATING APPARATUS.

and adapted to seat with the walls defining the opening in the drum when the first named closure is in closed position to seal said drum openmg.

5. In a washing machine, a stationary casing, a drum rotatable within the casing, said casing and said drum having coaxial openings in an end thereof for receiving articles to be washed, a closure operating in said casing opening to close and seal the opening in the drum, driving means for rotating the drum, and automatic means for reversing the direction of rotation of the drum periodically, said automatic means including a rotatable timing member, trips carried on said member, a control for said drum driving means, and means actuated by said trips to shift the control from one position to another alternately.

6. In a laundry machine, a stationary casing, a rotatable clothes container, a driven hollow shaft rotatably supporting the container in the casing, and a fluid chamber between the shaft and a wall of the container, said container wall having a plurality of openings for delivering a fluid from the shaft and chamber to the interior of the container in the form of a plurality of jets entering the container substantially parallel to the rotating axis thereof.

7. In a combined washing and rinsing machine, a perforated clothes container rotatable in reverse directions and partially submerged in a washing solution, said container being supported axially at one end and having a charging opening at its other end, a closure for sealing the opening during rotation of the container, means for removing the washing solution from contact with the container, and means for projecting a revolving rinsing fluid curtain across the container, said curtain to be traversed by a batch of clothes during rotation of the container.

8. In a combined washing and rinsing machine, a casing, a perforated clothes container rotatable in the casing in reverse directions and partially submerged in a washing solution, said container being supported axially at one end and having a charging opening at its other end, a closure for the opening, means for removing the washing solution from contact with the container, and means for projecting a rinsing fluid curtain across the container lengthwise to be traversed by a batch of clothes during rotation of the container, said last named means including a fluid chamber adjacent the container and having communication with the same.

9. A laundry machine including a stationary casing, a rotatable perforated drum in the easing, said drum being rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and having an opening at one end to receive articles to be cleaned, said casing having an opening cooperating with the drum opening, a closure for said openings, and means for ejecting a fluid into the interior of the drum in the form of a cylindrical fluid curtain extending across the normal path of movement of the articles within the drum during rotation of the same.

10. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having an opening in one end thereof, a perforated article container rotatable within the casing upon a substantially horizontal axis and having an opening in an end thereof adjacent the opening in the casing, means to direct liquid toward the container opening, an imperforate closure attached to the casing and operating in said opening in the casing to close and seal the openidtitiiiiilil ing in said container, and means for rotating said container when sealed.

11. In a Washing machine, a stationary casing having an opening in one end thereof, a perforated article container rotatable within the casing upon a substantially horizontal axis and having an opening in an end thereof adjacent the opening in the casing, means for rotating said container, and means opposite the container opening for projecting a washing fluid under pressure and axially of the container in the form of a plurality of jets, a closure operating in said opening in the casing to close and seal the opening in said container during rotation of the con tainer.

12. In a washing machine, a stationary casing having an opening in one endthereof, a perforated article container rotatable Within the easing upon a substantially horizontal axis and having an opening in an end thereof adjacent the opening in the casing, means for rotating said container, and means opposing the container opening for projecting a washing fluid under pressure and axially of the container in the form of a plurality of jets, a closure operating in said opening in the casing to close and seal the opening in said container, said last named means including a fluid chamber formed with a wall of the container and having communication with a source of washing fluid under pressure and with the interior of the container.

13. In a laundry machine comprising a casing, a clothes containing drum having a fixed horizontal axis of rotation in the casing, a driven shaft on said axis and extending from one end of the drum, the drum having an axial loading door opening at its opposite end, and the casing having a door opening alined with the former door opening, a door unit including an outer door carried by the casing and having an opening and closing movement, an inner door, and means adjustable axially and radially of said unit for rotatably supporting the said inner door in connection with the outer door to cooperate with the shaft in maintaining the drum against displacement.

14. In a laundry machine comprising a casing, a clothes containing drum having a fixed horizontal axis of rotation in the casing, a driven shaft on said axis and extending from one end of the drum, the drum having an axial loading door opening at its opposite end, and the casing having a door opening alined with the former door opening, a door unit including an outer door carried by the casing and having an opening and closing movement, an inner door rotatably mounted on the outer door axially thereof for closing the drum opening, and means for axially and radially adjusting the inner door with respect to the outer door and supporting it in adjusted position to cooperate with the shaft in maintaining the drum against displacement.

15. In a laundry machine, a stationary casing having a door opening, a clothes containing drum within the casing having an axial door opening at one end alined with and adjacent the door opening of the casing, a horizontal driven shaft extending from the other end of the drum for rotatably supporting the drum within the casing, and means carried by the casing for closing the door openings including an outer door for the casing opening, an inner door for the drum opening rotatably supported axially on the outer door, and means for radially adjusting the inner door relative to the outer door and the drum door opening to center the inner rotatable door with the drum shaft.

16. In a laundry machine, a stationary casing, a perforated clothes container mounted in the casing and movable about a horizontal axis, means for actuating the, drum about its axis, the drum having means for carrying the clothes during the rotation thereof from the lower portion of the drum to the upper portion of the drum and dropping them to the lower portion, and means for projecting a fluid curtain across the container in a general direction parallel to the axis thereof in the form of a cylindrical curtain.

17. In a laundry machine comprising a casing, a clothes containing drum having a fixed horizontal axis of rotation in the casing, and held against axial movement, a driven shaft on said axis and extending from one end of the drum, the drum having an axial loading door opening at its opposite end and the casing having a door opening alined with the door opening of the drum, a door unit including an inner door for the drum opening and an outer door carried by the casing and having an opening and closing movement with respect to the door opening of the casing, and means for rotatably supporting the inner door axially thereof in said unit and in axially adjustable connection with the outer door for axial adjustment relative to the drum to effectively close the drum opening when the outer door is closed against the casing.

HENRY F. NASH.

JOHN ZIMARIK. 

